A SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CREATED IN 1957 SERVES THE 25 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY. THE PHILOSOPHY AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES OF THE DISTRICT ARE PRESENTED. A DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES SERVES CHILDREN IN SPECIAL CLASSES IN THE SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR CLASSES, AND ALSO OPERATES A PROGRAM FOR HYPERKINETIC CHILDREN. HOME TEACHING SERVICES ARE OFFERED FOR POSTOPERATIVE CASES AND CHILDREN WITH EXTREME ORTHOPEDIC DISABILITY OR NONINFECTIOUS ILLNESS OR HEART DISEASE. ORTHOPEDICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ARE INSTRUCTED IN SPECIAL CLASSES (READINESS, PRIMARY, INTERMEDIATE, JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS) AND RECEIVE PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND SPEECH THERAPY. VISUALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ATTEND REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE RESOURCE CLASSES FOR THE BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED. SOME VISUALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ATTEND THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AS DAY STUDENTS. A CONSULTANT SERVICE FOR CHILDREN WITH MILD VISION DEFECTS IS AVAILABLE AT ALL SCHOOLS. SPECIALIZED CLASSES SERVE DEAF, LANGUAGE-IMPAIRED, AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDE HEARING CONSERVATION, HEARING THERAPY, AND SPEECH CORRECTION PROGRAMS. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT CLASSES ARE OFFERED. THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED OPERATES EDUCABLE, TRAINABLE, AND MODERATELY DEPENDENT EDUCABLE CLASSES FOR YOUTHS, AGED 13 TO 21 YEARS. A TECHNICAL SCHOOL PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO APPLICANTS WHO ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT BY THE INSTRUCTION AND ARE EITHER EMPLOYED OR LIKELY TO BECOME EMPLOYED. DETAILS OF EACH PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED. (MK)